IV:6 Pay no attention to curses

A rich lady from Savatthi was a supporter and disciple of a naked
ascetic by the name of Pathika. Because of her strong devotion to the naked ascetic
she treated Pathika as she would her own son.

She had many friends and neighbours. All her neighbours were lay
disciples of the Buddha. They frequently visited the Jetavana monastery to pay their
respects and to listen to the religious discourses given by the Enlightened One.
When she heard her neighbours praising the virtues of the Buddha, she wanted to go
to the monastery to pay her homage and also to listen to his religious discourses.
However, Pathika prevented her from going to the monastery on several occasions.

So instead of going to the monastery, she invited the Buddha through
her own son to her house for almsgiving. Choice food was prepared for the almsgiving.
After the meal, the Buddha expressed his appreciation (anumodana). Hearing
the golden voice of the Buddha delivering the wonderful and glorious Dhamma for the
first time in her life, her whole body was suffused with joy and happiness and she
exclaimed spontaneously, 'Well said! Well said!'

Pathika the naked ascetic who was in the next room heard the applause
uttered by the rich lady. 'She is no longer my disciple,' thought Pathika. Fuming
with rage, he came out of the room and cursed both the lady and the Buddha, and left
the house angrily still shouting his abuses.

The lady was embarrassed and so ashamed that she could not concentrate
on what the Buddha was saying. The Enlightened One advised her not to be concerned
about those curses and threats, but to be mindful of her own good and bad deeds.

At the end of the discourse, she attained the first stage of Sainthood.